Cleora Top in Rowan Summerlite DK - Downloadable PDF

Cleora Top in Rowan Summerlite DK – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Cleora Top is a classic, elegantly fitted knitted top designed by Quail Studio and worked in Rowan Summerlite DK yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern is rated advanced beginner in difficulty, making it an ideal next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle simple shaping. The design is photographed in White 465, showcasing the clean, understated aesthetic of the finished garment.

What Is Being Made

The Cleora Top is a pullover-style knitted top designed to be worn close to the body with a neat, structured silhouette. It is worked in separate pieces — including a back and corresponding front sections — and features shaped armholes and a finished neckband. The pattern is sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 71–76 cm (28–30 in) up to 152–157 cm (60–62 in), with actual garment chest measurements ranging from approximately 85.5 cm to 165.5 cm. This generous size range makes the Cleora Top an accessible and versatile pattern for knitters of many body types.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Rowan Summerlite DK, a lightweight DK-weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The quantity required ranges from 6 to 13 balls depending on the size being knitted. Summerlite DK is a cotton-blend yarn well suited to warm-weather garments, offering a smooth, breathable finish that complements the clean stitch definition of the design.

• Yarn: Rowan Summerlite DK, 50g balls (photographed in White 465)
• Yarn weight: DK
• Quantity: 6–13 balls depending on size

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires several needle sizes and types to achieve the correct structure and finish:

• 1 pair 3mm (US 2/3) needles – used for the ribbed or textured lower border sections
• 1 pair 3.5mm (US 4) needles – used for the main body worked in stocking stitch
• 3mm (US 2/3) circular needles, 40 cm length – used for working the neckband in the round
• Stitch holders – for holding live stitches during shoulder and neck shaping
• Stitch markers – used to mark key points such as the transition from the border to the main body

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm, measured over stocking stitch using 3.5mm (US 4) needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in a fitted garment like the Cleora Top, as it directly affects the final chest measurement and overall fit.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Cleora Top uses a combination of foundational knitting stitches and straightforward shaping techniques. The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch (st st), created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. This produces the smooth, flat fabric characteristic of classic knitted tops.

The lower section of the garment begins on 3mm needles and incorporates a decrease row on the wrong side using K2tog (knit two together) to reduce the stitch count before transitioning to the main body. A stitch marker is placed at the end of this row to serve as a reference point for measuring the body length.

Armhole shaping is achieved through a combination of techniques:

• Casting off stitches at the beginning of rows to create the initial underarm curve
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease worked near the beginning of right-side rows
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease worked near the end of